Matthew Webb swim to his death there.

And there was a 128-year ban of daredevil stunts in the famous falls that border the United States and Canada.

But like inspirational swimmers around the world who break barriers in the open water, Nik Wallenda dramatically broke barriers above the open water when he walked across the Niagara Falls on a high wire.

The danger and allure of the open water set the sensational ambiance of his breathtaking act.

Wallenda’s lifetime of preparation, months of logistical arrangements, daily training and his focused mind remind us of the similarly daredevil acts of numerous open water swimmers who attempt and achieve unprecedented feats in the open water.

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Photo by Frank Gunn, The Canadian Press, via The Associated Press

Copyright © 2012 by Open Water Source